Simple Description

The potential energy an object has due to the action of gravity on it

Further Detail

For example, an object lifted up in the air gains the potential to fall down again when released. As such, we say that the object has gained gravitational potential energy as it has gained the potential to fall due to gravity. The amount of graviational potential energy (sometimes called GPE) an object has gained can be found using the equation:

Related Words:

• Energy
• Kinetic energy
• Gravity

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